XRP exchange supply hitting eight-year lows has tightened the available supply for sale and set the stage for a potential 2026 supply-shock rally. XRP (XRP) held above a key demand zone that has provided support for its price throughout 2025. Will holding this level and a reducing balance on exchanges trigger the start of a sustained recovery in 2026? Key takeaways: XRP supply on exchanges has dropped to an eight-year low, signalling reduced selling pressure. Read more
Strategy keeps buying Bitcoin during downturns by tapping equity markets and reserves, turning dilution and financing costs into a repeatable accumulation engine. Strategy funds its dip buying primarily through ATM equity sales rather than operating cash flow. Preferred shares and other financing tools add buying power but create ongoing dividend and interest obligations. A $1.44-billion reserve is intended to reduce “forced seller” concerns during prolonged market slumps. Read more
Russia’s justice ministry proposed fines and prison for illegal crypto mining, as officials say most miners still haven’t joined the tax register. Russia has proposed a new draft bill seeking to crack down on unregistered cryptocurrency miners in the country, following concerns from the finance minister about illegal mining activity. Russia’s Ministry of Justice has proposed imposing penalties of up to 1.5 million rubles (about $19,000) and up to two years of forced labor for illegal cryptocurrency mining, according to new draft amendments to the Criminal Code, published on Monday. For crypto mining activities involving outsized profits, the maximum sentence could reach up to five years in prison, 480 hours of forced labor, and a fine of up to 2.5 million rubles. Read more
As Strategy doubles down on its Bitcoin-first treasury approach, analysts warn that debt, dilution and market volatility could test the model’s resilience heading into 2026. In early 2025, Michael Saylor’s technology company MicroStrategy officially rebranded to Strategy and adopted a Bitcoin-themed visual marketing program to reflect its core focus as the world’s largest corporate BTC holder. As of Dec. 30, Strategy has accumulated 672,497 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at nearly $59 billion and acquired at an average price of $74,997 per coin. With Bitcoin trading near $88,000, the company is sitting on an unrealized gain of roughly 17%. However, despite the paper profits, pressure has been building. Strategy must continue servicing dividends and financing costs tied to the preferred shares and debt used to fund its Bitcoin purchases, creating fixed cash obligations regardless of Bitcoin’s price moves. Read more
CARF data collection starts Jan. 1, 2026, in 48 jurisdictions, including the UK and EU, pushing crypto platforms to gather tax residency details and report transactions. From Jan. 1, 2026, crypto users in 48 jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, will start to feel the first real effects of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) as early‑moving jurisdictions begin collecting standardized data from exchanges and platforms. CARF requires in-scope providers to gather more detailed customer information, verify tax residency and report users’ balances and transactions annually to their domestic tax authorities, which will then share that data across borders under existing information‑exchange agreements. Lucy Frew, partner and head of the global Regulatory & Risk Advisory Group at international law firm Walkers, told Cointelegraph that CARF is a “game-changer,” and “set to reshape compliance for digital asset busine...
The UK plans to bring crypto in line with traditional finance by 2027, with FCA proposals shaping trading platforms, DeFi and oversight of political donations. The UK plans to bring cryptocurrency within the financial services perimeter by October 2027, shifting toward a structured regulatory regime. The Financial Conduct Authority has launched consultations to define standards and requirements for crypto firms, with final rules expected in 2026. The new framework marks a move away from basic Anti-Money Laundering registration toward a detailed licensing system that mirrors traditional financial products. Read more
Cointelegraph asked 20 crypto executives for their stablecoin predictions in 2026. We identified five key themes… and one stark warning. Stablecoins have shifted from speculative assets to essential infrastructure in emerging markets, and adoption in developed regions has surged. Yet the market remains divided. Some expect stablecoins to dominate through decentralized protocols, while others foresee tokenized deposits as the main growth driver. This raises critical questions about the future of money. Will stablecoins revolutionize payments globally, or will traditional banking adapt in ways that blur the lines? And critically, will stablecoins destabilize markets? Read more
Traders spotted strong bullish signals for Bitcoin, including a potential bear trap reversal and a technical breakout projecting a rally to $107,000 next month. Bitcoin (BTC) entered its final week of the year down 30% from its $126,000 all-time high reached on Oct. 6. Has BTC finally peaked, or is there a relief in the cards going into 2026? Key takeaways: A typical "Christmas bear trap" may precede a potential relief rally into 2026. Read more